Jungle Telegraph

Kill the messenger

The Sunday Times (Situation Report) of January 17, this year, bared details of a controversial deal to procure 3,000 pieces of body armour. 

The report was accompanied by documentary evidence. How urgently this simple piece of military hardware was needed was demonstrated by an incident in Jaffna. A woman soldier at a checkpoint was fired at by an LTTE pistol gang. She died of stomach injuries. Military officials said she would have survived if she wore body armour. Tenders were called in October, 1997 and eleven suppliers were short listed. 

The Ministry of Defence appointed a Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) to evaluate the bids - a Major General, a Navy Lieutenant Commander, A Finance Ministry representative a Treasury official.The TEC recommended one supplier as being suitable. Another supplier, one of the ten who were unsuccessful, wrote to a Brigadier at Army Headquarters protesting against the award.

That saw the beginning of a new process whilst the Defence Ministry's TEC report remained. Another Committee at Army Headquarters examined the bids.

Later, they recommended the award to the unsuccessful supplier who lodged the protest.

That award was made in December, last year -15 long months after the tenders were called for an urgent requirement.

Now, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Srilal Weerasooriya, has called in the Military Police. The reason ? Not to probe whether this deal lacked any transparency or how the MOD's own TEC was set aside on a protest made by an unsuccessful supplier to a Brigadier at Army Headquarters (AHQ).

It is to find out how The Sunday Times obtained documents relating to the controversial procurement. Uniform and civilian staff have been questioned by the MPs who have also examined documents.

Meanwhile, another document now in possession of The Sunday Times throws more light. It will be revealing even to the MPs. On November, 26, 1998, prospective tenderers received a letter from AHQ. 

This is what it said: '(a) if the tender is awarded, within ten days, confirm whether the shipping documents in respect of the Tender could be forwarded on or before 25/12/98 (note: Christmas Day). (b) Payment will be released 100 per cent after receipt of goods to Sri Lanka Army.'Treat this matter as top urgent and reply on or before 27/11/98.' 

Interestingly, the period referred to is the holiday season most observed world-wide.

And now, the much needed body armour which will make the soldier less vulnerable to death will arrive only in March. The Letter of Credit of the awardee has been further extended

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